If you’ve worked with Jerry Belair, Program Coordinator and Director of District Partnerships for PEL, you know he mixes humor with insight—pushing people to think differently while keeping humanity at the center. After a decades-long career in education, he jokes that he’s now in his “rust years.” The truth is, nothing about Jerry has slowed down. Even while undergoing treatment for cancer, he continues to work on improving the systems within which people operate, making things better for them.
For Jerry, leadership has never been about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions. “The key is to say, ‘I don’t know—but I know we have the answer in the room,’” he says. This belief in collective intelligence guided his path into the field of education. After graduating from Georgetown University, Jerry planned to pursue law school, but a project designing an elementary school sparked his interest. Graduate studies at UC Berkeley—and work across diverse urban and suburban communities—cemented his commitment. “I fell in love,” he recalls.
Over the years, Jerry has worn nearly every hat in a school system—teacher, principal, and superintendent. “Schools are ecosystems,” he says. “You take on every role.” As a middle school principal for over 16 years, he fostered a collaborative culture where staff members introduced new hires, students participated in hiring committees, and professional learning was hands-on. “My dream was to have the same staff multiple years in a row, because consistency builds trust and momentum,” he says.
His leadership philosophy is clear: model accessibility, transparency, and fairness. “Fairness is giving people what they need, which is not the same thing for everyone,” Jerry says. Capacity building has been a constant thread. “My job as a principal was to build the capacity of my assistant principal to become a principal. We have a responsibility to help people with their aspirations.”
At Partners, Jerry is both strategist and connector. “I’m the outreach person. I focus on sustaining the work over time,” he says. He collaborates with district leaders to refine ideas, prioritize objectives, and develop plans that benefit students. “We’re not an organization that does one-shot deals,” he adds. “It’s about continuous improvement.”
Jerry’s approach is rooted in relationships—and courage. He makes himself available, treats every conversation as a chance to learn, and doesn’t shy away from hard truths. When a district struggled to address inequities, he pushed leaders to share data transparently with staff and families. “Avoidance is the easiest way to duck conflict,” he says. “But conflict, handled well, builds trust.”
That same courage shows up in his coaching. He urges principals to invite staff input—sometimes even asking what they’d do if they were principal—because he knows the power of humility and shared ownership.
Even after decades in education, Jerry still sees himself as a learner. He embraces the “next level of work,” a phrase he credits to mentor Richard Elmore. “We’ll never arrive,” he says. “We’re lifelong learners. And we’re in it for the long haul.”
Outside of his work with Partners, Jerry is a devoted family man, an outdoor enthusiast, and a lifelong advocate for public service. His calm demeanor, combined with his strategic mind and servant-leadership ethos, makes him an indispensable member of the Partners team—and a trusted ally to districts across the state.
Jerry says he loves his work. “Staying cognitively active with so many people I’ve worked with—and lots of new people—is just as powerful as my chemo.”
Rust or not, Jerry continues to inspire—building capacity, asking hard questions, and keeping people laughing along the way.
You can reach Jerry at jbelair@partnersforel.org
